The Parliament on Monday passed an amendment to the Employment Act, removing the legal cap that limited the number of foreign workers from a single country to 100,000.
The amendment, introduced by the government late last month, was approved by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on National Security Services before being passed with 65 votes in favour and 10 votes against from members of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
Previously, the law set the maximum number of foreign workers from any one country at 100,000. The new amendment shifts this authority from legislation to rules established under the Act, allowing flexibility in determining the number and areas of foreigners that can be brought into the country each year. These rules may specify different criteria based on industry, occupation, and skill level.
Initially, the proposed rules allowed for an optional determination of foreign worker numbers. However, the committee revised the bill, making it a requirement to establish these figures, which must now be made public twice a year.
The amendment also mandates that an assessment be conducted to evaluate the impact of foreign workers on the Maldivian workforce. This assessment will be carried out based on the advice of the cabinet.